Panel cab

Abstract

Cab panel structures and methods for their assembly on an overhead guard of a land vehicle. A metal roof panel can be used alone or with a metal frame windshield panel for a partial enclosure. The metal roof and windshield panels can be used with complimentary fabric panels that afford a full enclosure or with complimentary steel panels that afford a full enclosure of high durability. The metal panels are attached to the overhead guard posts in a unique clamp-on method that avoids the need for direct fastening of the guard and, accordingly, allows rapid installation.

I claim: 
     
       1. A cab enclosure for a land vehicle having an open cage-like overhead guard including generally vertical corner posts comprising a generally horizontal roof panel and at least one generally vertical face panel adapted to be fixed to the overhead guard, said one panel being a rigid body having generally vertical edges each extending along an associated generally vertical post of the overhead guard, cap means and fastener means for securing said cap means and said face panel together in assembled relation, said cap means and face panel in assembled relation embracing a sufficient circumferential extent of a post to securely retain said face panel on said associated posts, said fastener means being capable of holding said face panel on said associated posts during ordinary service of said vehicle without direct fastening between said cap means or said face panel and the associated posts. 
     
     
       2. A cab enclosure as set forth in claim 1, wherein said posts define a face of a cab and the posts have surfaces at their defined face, said edges of said face panel each overlying an adjacent surface of one of said posts, said cap means comprising an elongated channel-like element fastened to the face panel, the channel-like elements having a length that is at least equal to a majority of the height of the face panel. 
     
     
       3. A cab enclosure as set forth in claim 1, wherein the assembly of the face panel and cap means provides spaced hinge mounting means on a side of the overhead guard adapted to support a door thereon. 
     
     
       4. A method of constructing an enclosure on a vehicle having an overhead guard that includes generally upright support posts comprising the steps of forming a rigid panel adapted to span the area between the posts, the panel being formed with marginal areas proportioned to extend along the upright posts, forming post cap elements, aligning the panel with the posts, assembling the post cap elements with the marginal areas of the panel in a manner by which the posts are wrapped to a degree sufficient to secure the panel on the posts, the assembly of the panel and post cap elements being accomplished in a manner that avoids the need for any significant direct fastening of the panel to the posts. 
     
     
       5. A method as set forth in claim 4, wherein the assembly of the panel and post cap elements is accomplished with screws passing through both said panel and said cap elements. 
     
     
       6. A cab kit for assembly with the overhead guard of a land vehicle, comprising a plurality of rigid roof plate units, a plurality of rigid front windshield panel units, a plurality of rigid rear panel units, a plurality of pairs of rigid right and left side doors, a plurality of fabric rear panels and a plurality of pairs of fabric right and left side panels, each roof plate unit being arranged to be used separately or with the front windshield panel unit alone or in combination with a rigid rear panel unit and a pair of rigid doors or in combination with a fabric rear panel and a pair of fabric side panels, each front windshield unit being arranged to be used with a roof plate unit separately or in combination with a rigid rear panel unit and a pair of rigid side doors or in combination with a fabric rear panel and a pair of fabric side panels. 
     
     
       7. A cab kit as set forth in claim 6, wherein each roof panel unit has peripheral depending flanges adapted to be used to secure the upper margin of a fabric rear panel and a pair of fabric side panels and the front windshield unit is adapted to be used to secure the front margins of the pair of fabric side panels. 
     
     
       8. A roof plate unit for covering the upper face of an overhead guard comprising a generally rectangular flat steel body, a resilient material on a lower surface of the steel body, retaining means on the body at spaced locations, the retaining means being arranged to interlock on portions of the overhead guard, the retaining means being proportioned to hold the resilient material in compression against the top of the overhead guard when fully interlocked with the same.